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May 1, 2025
BOB MURPHY:
The Liberal Party will release its costings today. More than four million Australians have already been to the polls and tensions are high at some polling booths around Victoria.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
James Paterson is a Liberal Senator for Victoria and spokesperson for the campaign. James, thanks for joining the show, but about a quarter of voters have already submitted their ballot at pre-poll, why wait until today to release your costings?
JAMES PATERSON:
We're releasing our costings the same day of this campaign that Anthony Albanese in the Labor Party released their costings in the last campaign. In this campaign, the government has only released their costings on Monday, and they have the benefit of using the Departments of Treasury and Finance to help them with their costings. And our costings have to be in part based on the government's costings because ours are relative to theirs, we make changes to theirs. So we're releasing them at a normal and reasonable time for an opposition to do so.
BOB MURPHY:
Putting your opposition to one side for a moment, though, James, isn't it just too late for nearly a quarter of voters who have made a decision already?
JAMES PATERSON:
Well, obviously, those voters who've chosen to go and vote early had enough information to make their decision, otherwise, they wouldn't have voted early. I think a lot of voters who vote early are people who have strong views, who made up their mind probably many months ago. But for anyone else who is waiting for that information, it'll be available today.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
What can you tell us about those numbers?
JAMES PATERSON:
So our Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Finance Minister will announce the details today, but what I can say at the outset is that we will reduce the deficit by at least $10 billion over the next four years by making sensible savings and putting in place some good budget management rules. We'll also reduce the gross debt by over $40 billion relative to the government.
BOB MURPHY:
And James, in Kooyong yesterday, there were neo-Nazi impersonating Liberal volunteers outside the pre-poll booth. How shocked were you to hear that?
JAMES PATERSON:
It's one of the most despicable and grotesque acts I have ever seen at a polling booth or in Australian politics, and although I'm extremely reluctant to give them the attention they crave, when something this vile happens, I think the only response from everyone has to be utter and total condemnation. I think we have to look very closely at whether any laws were breached at that polling booth yesterday, and if they were, they must be enforced with the full force of the law.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
James, what kind of investigation is going on? Given I've had a look at those campaign pamphlets, whatever you want to call them, they look like Liberal logos on them; it's extremely worrying. How seriously are you taking finding out who actually distributed them?
JAMES PATERSON:
We're taking it very seriously, although you don't have to be a police investigator to work that out. I mean, it's the neo-Nazis, National Socialist Network, who have printed and authorised and distributed this material. We are looking at whether or not they have breached any electoral laws, and that's ultimately a matter for the AEC to investigate and enforce. But we also need to look at whether they have breached any racial vilification laws. Obviously, although this was impersonating the Liberal Party, it was primarily targeting the Jewish community, and it's designed to make them feel unsafe and unwelcome in our country. And that is why it's a particularly appalling act.
BOB MURPHY:
James, the Liberal Party are also involved in a separate legal stoush around corflutes. Is that a distraction from the real issues of this election?
JAMES PATERSON:
No question. It's a major distraction and one that's been initiated by Boroondara Council overstepping its authority and thinking it has a role in regulating federal elections in Australia. Councils have no legal authority to regulate political communication. We think what they've done is unlawful and unconstitutional. And frankly, we'd much rather be talking about the cost of living and our plan to reduce the price of petrol by $14 a tank and diesel as well. The $1,200 that we're going to give back to 85% of taxpayers next financial year. That's what we'd rather be talking about, but when you have a council overstepping the mark, we have no choice but to push back.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
Has it gone too far, though? Did it become too big of a story when you should be focusing on other things?
JAMES PATERSON:
Well, really, we have no choice. If a council is exceeding its legal and constitutional authority and seeking to restrict political campaigning. In this country we have an implied right to political communication. The High Court has upheld it multiple times, and no council has the right to restrict political campaigning, and particularly around electoral booths. It is extraordinarily problematic. So we have to stand up for all Australians to participate and receive information about the election, and Boroondara Council is trying to get in the way of that.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
James, the polls aren't going your way right now. Do you think that'll change come Saturday?
JAMES PATERSON:
We've been really encouraged by the response on early voting. Our candidates around the field whom I've been canvassing say that they've never had such a warm reception on the booths in recent elections. It's much more positive than the last election, which is a really good sign for us. Ultimately, though, we think there are a lot of undecided voters who are waiting to make their decision and will really only probably decide as they walk into the polling booth over the next couple of days and on Saturday. So we still think this election is absolutely up for grabs and that we can win this election.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
What Victorian seats are most important to you?
JAMES PATERSON:
Look, I hesitate to single any individual seats out. There are a number of close marginal seats that will be hotly contested. But also I think there'll be some more traditional safer Labor seats where you could see some really big swings, particularly in the north-west of Melbourne and the south-east of Melbourne. These are people who feel like they've been let down by state and federal Labor governments. They feel like they missed out on infrastructure investment that other communities have got. They feel like cost of living is completely out of control. And many of them feel unsafe too. There's some real crime hotspots across our state, as you know. And these people feel like both state and federal Labor have failed to protect them from that.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
Hey James, while we've got you, do you ask your friends and family who they vote for, in the hope that it is you?
JAMES PATERSON:
Look, most of my friends and family freely volunteer that.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
Okay.
JAMES PATERSON:
Given my job, but, you know, some people prefer to be private about that, and I respect that.
SHARNELLE VELLA:
You'd be coy if a family member wasn't telling you who they voted for, though?
JAMES PATERSON:
Well, famously, my parents don't share my politics, but they're very loving and supportive of me, and I'm very grateful for that.
ENDS